By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan Chapter on Sunday asked the Institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka to pay all outstanding promotions arrears owed academic staff.
ASUU in a letter to the Vice-Chancellor entitled “Promotion of Arrears of Academic Staff jointly signed by its Chairman Dr Deji Omole and Secretary Dr Peter Olapegba respectively vowed to
resist purported plan by the University “to pay academic staff only one year promotion arrears even when promotion announcement of academic staff was delayed by the management and announced almost five or four years after the person was due for the promotion”.
ASUU in the letter declared that it rejected the proposal as it was inimical to the welfare of her members, saying the “lateness in announcing promotion is not the fault of the candidates but that of the administration based on the promotion procedure in operation adding that it is illogical in every sense”.
“It has come to the notice of the Academic Staff Union of University, University of Ibadan Branch that promotion arrears will only be paid for one year henceforth as stated on two occasions by the University Bursar during our meetings with Administration. Our Union wishes to state unequivocally that this position/decision is totally unacceptable to us as a Union and it is inimical to the welfare of our people and against any logic we can think of,” it said.
Emphasizing that “a rule or policy cannot be applied retroactively” and that “promotion arrears is earned and not a privilege”, saying, all those owed must be paid in full.
ASUU stressed that it can not guarantee industrial peace in the institution “when welfare of her members are being threatened” urging that the Vice Chancellor and his team think of ways to refine the promotion procedure so that people are promoted as at when due.
The union also tasked the University Administration to continue to pay promotion arrears of academic staff in full as at when due.
“Our position and decision against this proposed policy is informed by the following consideration: Those whose promotion (e.g 2010, 2011, 2012) were announced early enough have already been paid the full benefits of their arrears. How then can two people promoted same year be treated differently on payment of arrears. Promotion arrear is not a privilege but earned salary of individuals which MUST BE FULLY paid”.
ASUU stated further in the letter “Sir, if the University Administration goes ahead with this policy the industrial harmony existing in the University cannot be guaranteed. Sir, it is worthy of note that ASUU’s main preoccupation is the protection of the welfare of its members, and nothing will be left undone in discharging this responsibility. Be informed that ASUU National is aware of this development and it’s monitoring the situation. We hope reason will prevail in this situation.”
